Masters Degrees

Master of Science in Criminology

The Master of Science program in Criminology offered in downtown Fresno provides students
with both theoretical and practical knowledge about our criminal justice system and
its management. It prepares professionals for senior positions in government agencies.

The program is open to government employees, including military personnel, their spouses,
and those government employees recently laid off from work because of budget cuts.
The M.S. in Criminology degree can lead to promotion within a government agency and
enhances an employee’s qualifications for senior level positions within criminal justice
agencies.

Program content enhances critical thinking skills and guides students in the application
of theoretical concepts. In addition to the criminology core courses, remaining courses
are in areas related to criminal justice and criminal justice management, such as
courses on Homeland Security, the Intelligence Function, Management Information Systems,
and Criminal Justice Project Management.

Students progress together through the 30-unit program as a cohort over a 23-month
period. Classes meet face-to-face on Friday evenings and all day on Saturdays, with
some instruction online.

Eligible students must:

hold a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology or a related area from an accredited university/college

have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher in last sixty units of undergraduate study

Applicants must apply to the university online at www.csumentor.edu. They must also apply to the Criminology Department and submit the following:

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)

Executives may earn an MBA from a program accredited by The Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) in 17 months, while expanding
their professional network and acquiring valuable skills to advance their careers.

The EMBA is the same degree as the Craig School of Business traditional MBA program,
requiring 36 units. Executive MBA students enjoy flexibility and personal attention,
and are taught by top professors from the Craig School who focus on real world applications.
Through team-based learning, students develop a close network with their colleagues,
and learn to analyze complex problems as well as deal with strategic issues. The program
accommodates the busy executive using a cohort system and a preset course schedule
with most classes meeting on Saturdays. This Executive MBA program provides a broad
business curriculum that prepares the graduate for the competitive global community,
including a culminating experience in a foreign country.

Among a small cohort of established colleagues, candidates learn advanced practices
in management, marketing, finance, human resources and entrepreneurship. The fast-paced
atmosphere provides curriculum immediately applicable in everyday business situations.
By working together closely throughout the intensive program, students often forge
relationships that can pay dividends well into the future.

This degree program is designed for those with a minimum of ten years of work experience
and at least three years in a managerial or professional position.

Candidates are required to attend two and one-half weeks of intensive classes (Wednesday
to Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon) at the start of the program
in order to acquire the foundation materials for the degree.

One of the many highlights of this EMBA will be a 10-day international trip (included
in the tuition fee) to complement the international business course in the program.

Since the EMBA is designed to suit candidates with a minimum of ten years of work
experience with at least three years in a managerial or professional capacity, the
GMAT (graduate entrance exam to business schools) requirement will be waived for executive
applicants. A GPA of 2.5 or higher is required to be admitted, but participants must
maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate.

Master of Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program provides educational opportunities
for individuals to develop analytical and critical thinking skills; to appreciate
and engage in ethical decision making; and to enhance the ability to communicate effectively.
Specifically, the MPA program offers coursework in quantitative analysis, public institutions,
organizational theory, public budgeting and human resource management, public policy,
ethics, and public and nonprofit management. This coursework is supplemented by special
issue and topic courses in the areas of public and nonprofit management, as well as
public policy.

The MPA program at Fresno State has been accredited by the National Association of
Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). In addition, the faculty of
this program combines both academic training and practical experience in the courses
they teach. This is invaluable in a public administration degree.

Students are working professionals in local (e.g., city, county, and school districts)
and state government, as well as nonprofit organizations. These individuals are seeking
to develop management competencies in the areas of public and nonprofit management.
The types of careers that students can expect to enter after completion of this degree
would be those in management or administrative positions, as well as policy or program
analysis. Working professionals completing the program have experienced promotions
from lower- to middle-level management and from middle-level to the higher-levels
of management in their home organizations.

MPA students progress toward their degree as a cohort, with recent instruction sites
in Fresno or Visalia. Courses in the MPA off-campus program are delivered face-to-face
and are held on alternating weekends (e.g., Friday evenings and Saturday mornings
and afternoons). The MPA program requires 36 semester units and takes a little less
than two and one-half years to complete.

Individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree at an accredited university or
college are eligible to apply for admission to the MPA program. Program requirements
include the following: (1) applicants must have a grade point average of at least
2.75 over the course of their undergraduate careers; (2) Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) scores of at least 475 in the Quantitative section and 475 in the Verbal section
of the General Test; (3) submission of one letter of recommendation; and (4) professional
experience in the field of public administration, nonprofit management, or other related
fields.

The fee is $425 per unit for the current Fresno cohort, for a total of $15,300 for
the complete program. The cost of books and materials is not included. Students are
eligible to apply for financial aid.

Students must apply to the university online at www.csumentor.edu and must also apply to the MPA program.